Page 8 of Retribution
“We are in the middle of nowhere. They’ll look but won’t find you here.”
I bite down on my lip preventing myself from crying out for my men. Will they look for me after I left willingly with Noah? Are Knox and Carter planning a funeral right now? I don’t even know if Killian is alive.
“Is he dead?” I ask.
His lips pull into a wide grin, as if he’s only too pleased to give me the information.
“Your boyfriend? Yes. Grave? No, he said, to tell you he can’t wait to see you again.”
He winks at me, and instead of the butterflies with my guys, it makes me nauseous. When he walks out of the barn, I give myself permission to fall apart.
Tears fall down my face. I try to wipe them, but I can’t move my arms.
Why, Killian, why? I begged you not to fight. Now you’re gone, and it’s my fault.
“Killian.” I cry out as the pain consumes me.
Carter and Knox flash through my mind. Their suffering must be great.
“I’m sorry. I tried to tell him, but he wouldn’t listen.”
Noah comes back in and a chill runs down my spine, the trembling in my body uncontrollable.
“Who are you talking to, you crazy bitch?”
When I don’t respond quick enough, he charges for me. Standing in front of me, he pulls his fist back and holds it there. This is what he does. Noah’s two favorite things are fear and power. He has been like that since I can remember.
“M-m-yself.” I stammer pathetically.
Noah stands staring at me, his eyes dancing with amusement, making my stomach churn.
“You forgot who you were and who you belong to. But you won’t forget again.”
He walks away without another word but then comes back holding a tool used for branding cattle, and I scream.
“Noah. Please don’t.”
I already know I don’t have a choice. Jedediah ordered this. I remember the day he branded my mother. Her cries of pain could be heard throughout the house.
This may be the Prophet's orders, but Noah will enjoy it all the same.
“Not only will you remember-“
Noah sighs audibly, sounding pleased with himself.
“If by some miracle they find you, do you know what they’ll see when they look at you? Our used up whore. You belong to the church, wicked one. You are the property of the Servants of Christ.”
I turn my head away from him and imagine everything I’ll do to him when I get the chance.
He is going to be crucified along with his father. Carter will build the wooden cross for me. My men will be with me as I nail him to it. Both of them because Killian-
I can’t bear to finish the thought, but Noah interrupts my heartbreak.
He presses the hot metal to my stomach. The burning pain is blinding as I yell out for somebody to help me, and he laughs.
“There’s nobody here. It’s just us.”
He tosses the metal pole to the ground, and steps closer to me, his blue eyes reflecting pure evil.
